The Traveling Sketchbook: An American Kid Discovers Japan (Hardcover)

~ Fran Kramer (Author)
Key Phrases: Fran Kramer, William Holden, Wake Island (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What is like for a kid to move to a foreign country? It is a journey full of excitement and a road of pitfalls. In "The Traveling Sketchbook", kids encounter all these things moving into a Japanese neighborhood.

About the Author

Fran Kramer has had a lifelong love of Asia. As a child, she lived in Japan with her family and then returned as an adult in the 1980s working for Maryknoll as a consultant promoting the Hospice Movement and better care for terminally ill people. Fran did all her professional work in Japanese to include facilitating bereavement groups, and giving talks to physicians and health care providers. She has a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Asian Studies and underwent an intensive two-year Japanese training program in Tokyo and Kyoto. She taught World Religions and Meaning of Existence at community colleges in Hawaii and worked at the Fairbank Center for East Asian Studies at Harvard University. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403376344
• ISBN-13: 978-1403376343
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,270,762 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Childhood Remembrance....., February 2, 2003

By	patricia g. reed (salem, MA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Traveling Sketchbook: An American Kid Discovers Japan (Paperback)

As someone else who has had to move several times due to the father's job I can relate on many levels with this book, my moves were every three years within the USA and not as diverse as the author's moves to other countries nor as dramatic as the military plane ride. ALAS, my family only travelled by station wagon. Fran Kramer's family had a 'you have to read this book' experience in post war Japan. The beauty of Japan and the Japanese people are stunning in the words of Fran Kramer.

5.0 out of 5 stars ..., December 20, 2002

By	Jo Rusin (Tyrone, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Traveling Sketchbook: An American Kid Discovers Japan (Paperback)

A charming story of the daughter of an American Army officer living in post WWII Japan. For children it offers the classic tales of adjusting to a new home, pets, problems at school with teachers and bullies, and one attempt at playing hooky. On an adult level it reveals the complex differences between Japanese and American traditions, along with the universal undercurrent of curiosity and love among fellow human beings regardless of culture. If you a planning a trip to Japan or moving your family to any foreign country, The Traveling Sketch Book is a must read.